Please move over for my daughter.

My daughter is an ultra runner, one of those silly types who run races of 100 miles or more over mountainous terrain. She was visiting me here from Alabama, and decided to do a 34-mile training run over whatever terrain she could find, which was pretty much our local roads and streets. In Alabama that’s a fairly common occurrence; in New Jersey that’s about as rare as a self-service gas pump.

The run itself didn’t bother my daughter, despite the nippy New Jersey air. What did bother her, though, was the fact that unlike in Alabama and other states in which she’s trained, many drivers didn’t do much to make sure there was a safe space between her and two tons of what they were driving. Even on quiet, Sunday-empty back roads, they whizzed by her without moving over an inch.

Look, this isn’t just about my daughter. There are countless other runners out there, and we’ve all passed numerous bicycles on streets and side roads. According to New Jersey traffic laws and common sense, these folks have a right to share our roadways, and in a manner that is safe for everyone. For a driver to move over a few feet when there are no other cars around is respectful, courteous and a nice gesture to a fellow resident.

So what does this have to do with real estate? Plenty, actually. We live here because we like the townships and neighborhoods and the quiet, safe way of life. We find people here to be friendly, and we raise our families to respect one another and share the joys of South Brunswick, or Plainsboro, or Montgomery, or any one of the dozen townships that surround Princeton. Our way of life influences the value of our homes and neighborhoods.

My daughter loves the Greater Princeton area. She grew up here before moving to Alabama and the Deep South. Let’s prove that Northern hospitality is just as much a thing as Southern hospitality. When you pass a rider on a bicycle, give him or her room if you safely can. And if you pass my daughter, please move over for her as well. She’ll be the one with braids, a big smile and wearing a hydration vest.